The emergence of metal oxide nanoparticles (NPs) as a phytomedicine: A two-facet role in plant growth, nano-toxicity and anti-phyto-microbial activity.

Anti-microbial resistance (AMR) has recently emerged as an area of high interest owing to the rapid surge of AMR phenotypes. Metal oxide NPs (MeONPs) have been identified as novel phytomedicine and have recently peaked a lot of interest due to their potential applications in combating phytopathogens, besides enhancing plant growth and yields. Numerous MeONPs (Ti2O, MgO, CuO, Ag2O, SiO2, ZnO, and CaO) have been synthesized and tested to validate their antimicrobial roles without causing toxicity to the cells. This review discusses the application of the MeONPs with special emphasis on anti-microbial activities in agriculture and enlists how cellular toxicity caused through reactive oxygen species (ROS) production affects plant growth, morphology, and viability. This review further highlights the two-facet role of silver and copper oxide NPs including their anti-microbial applications and toxicities. Furthermore, the factor modulating nanotoxicity and immunomodulation for cytokine production has also been discussed. Thus, this article will not only provide the researchers with the potential bottlenecks but also emphasizes a comprehensive outline of breakthroughs in the applicability of MeONPs in agriculture.

Potential therapeutic and pharmacological strategies for SARS-CoV2.

BACKGROUND: At the end of 2019, the new Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) strain causing severe acute respiratory syndrome swept the world. From November 2019 till February 2021, this virus infected nearly 104 million, with more than two million deaths and about 25 million active cases. This has prompted scientists to discover effective drugs to combat this pandemic. AREA COVERED: Drug repurposing is the magic bullet for treating severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV2). Therefore, several drugs have been investigated in silico, in vitro, as well as through human trials such as anti-SARS-CoV2 agents, or to prevent the complications resulting from the virus. In this review, the mechanisms of action of different therapeutic strategies are summarized. According to the WHO, different classes of drugs can be used, including anti-malarial, antiviral, anti-inflammatory, and anti-coagulant drugs, as well as angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors, antibiotics, vitamins, zinc, neutralizing antibodies, and convalescent plasma therapy. Recently, there are some vaccines which are approved against SARS-CoV2. EXPERT OPINION: A complete understanding of the structure and function of all viral proteins that play a fundamental role in viral infection, which contribute to the therapeutic intervention and the development of vaccine in order to reduce the mortality rate. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1007/s40005-021-00520-4.

Nanophyto-gel against multi-drug resistant Pseudomonas aeruginosa burn wound infection.

Burn wound is usually associated by antibiotic-resistant Pseudomonas aeruginosa infection that worsens and complicates its management. An effective approach is to use natural antibiotics such as cinnamon oil as a powerful alternative. This study aims to investigate topical nanostructured lipid carrier (NLC) gel loaded cinnamon oil for Pseudomonas aeruginosa wound infection. A 24 full factorial design was performed to optimize the formulation with particle size 108.48 ± 6.35 nm, zeta potential -37.36 ± 4.01 mV, and EE% 95.39 ± 0.82%. FTIR analysis revealed no excipient interaction. Poloxamer 407 in a concentration 20% w/w NLC gel was prepared for topical application. Drug release exhibited an initial burst release in the first five hours, followed by a slow, sustained release of up to five days. NLC-cinnamon gel has a significant ability to control the drug release with the lowest minimum inhibitory concentration again P. aeruginosa compared to other formulations (p < .05). In vivo study also showed NLC-cinnamon gel effectively healed the infected burned wound after a six-day treatment course with better antibacterial efficacy in burned animal models. Histological examination ensured the tolerability of NLC-cinnamon gel. The results suggest that nanoparticle-based cinnamon oil gel is a promising natural product against antibiotic-resistant strains of P. aeruginosa in wound infection.

Formulation and in vitro evaluation of size expanding gastro-retentive systems of levofloxacin hemihydrate.

Size increasing (plug-type) levofloxacin hemihydrate (LVF) tablets for eradication of Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) were prepared using in situ gel forming polymers including: gellan gum, sodium alginate, pectin and xanthan gum. Effect of cross-linkers: calcium and aluminum chloride, on the drug release was also studied. The prepared tablets were evaluated for their physicochemical parameters: weight variation, thickness, friability, hardness, drug content, water uptake and in vitro drug release. The optimized formula was subjected to further studies such as radial swelling test, FT-IR and DSC. Results revealed that LVF release depends not only on the nature of the matrix but also on the type of cross linker used to form this polymeric matrix. The addition of either calcium chloride or aluminum chloride, as cross-linkers, to gellan gum formulations significantly decreased drug release. Other polymers' formulations resulted in increased drug release upon addition of the same cross-linkers. The formula containing xanthan gum without any cross linker showed the most sustained LVF release with an increase in diameter with time, thus acting as a plug-type dosage form. IR spectra and DSC thermograms of LVF, xanthan gum, and a physical mixture of both, indicated that there was no interaction between the drug and the polymer and confirmed the drug stability.